Book after Book

Welcome to the blog tour for The Takeaway Men by Meryl Ain ! Thanks to the help of iRead Book Tours , today I have the pleasure of sharing with you an interview with the author of this new historical fiction novel. Ready? Let’s start… Hi Meryl! First of all, I would like to congratulate you on the publication of The Takeaway Men ! Can you please briefly tell us what it is about? A: Thank you so much for your interest in my book. It’s a post Holocaust novel about twin sisters Bronka and Johanna Lubinski, who arrive in New York with their parents from a Displaced Persons Camp after World War II. In addition to adjusting to American culture in the ‘50s and ‘60s, as they grow they begin to wonder about the cloud of secrecy and sorrow that hangs over their parents. As they try to investigate and demand answers, they realize that their parents’ memories will be difficult and painful to uncover. The Takeaway Men explores the impact, not only of the Holocaust, but of immigration,...

Welcome to the blog tour for The Book Dragon Club by Lexi Rees . Let’s jump right into it as I am properly excited to share how wonderful I think it is. Unlike the books I normally review, this is an activity book. Also unlike most books you can find on my blog, this is a middle grade children’s book. The differences end here because – as it is often the case – I have asked to review it knowing that I would personally love it. Yes, at (almost) 40 years old, I want to be part of the book dragon club. Originally, I thought I’d save this book for my own little book dragon but – on second thoughts – I think I’ll buy her her own copy when she’s older than her current 11 months of age! So much thought and creativity have gone into this book. It’s really amazing! There are activities that can be done individually or with friends (or eager parents?!) and they involve drawing, colouring, thinking, creating and generally having tons of bookish fun! I was slightly t...

Welcome to the blog tour for The Cry of the Lake , Charlie Tyler ’s debut novel. And what a debut novel! Described as evocative and riveting, it will stay with you long after turning that last page. But now, let’s hear it from the author herself... Hi Charlie! First of all, I would like to congratulate you on the publication of The Cry of the Lake ! Can you please briefly tell us what it is about? A: The Cry of the Lake centres around the relationship between deeply troubled sisters, Grace and Lily, and Grace’s step-daughter, Flo.   The sisters have immersed themselves within an idyllic, chocolate-box environment – playing along at happy families whilst harbouring a terrible secret.   But when Flo’s father is accused of murdering a schoolgirl, their past starts catching up with them and events begin to spiral out of control.   Lily has it within her power to prevent any more deaths, but to do so she has to go back into her past to dredge up a memory that she...

Finders, Keepers by Sabine Durrant Published by Hodder & Stoughton   Synopsis: Ailsa Tilson moves with her husband and children to Trinity Fields in search of the new. New project - a house to renovate. New people - no links to the past. New friends - especially her next-door neighbour, the lonely Verity, who needs her help. Verity has lived in Trinity Fields all her life. She's always resisted change. Her home and belongings are a shield, a defence to keep the outside world at bay. But something about the Tilsons piques her interest. Just as her ivy creeps through the shared garden fence, so Verity will work her way into the Tilson family. And once they realise how formidable she can be, it might well be too late. How did this book end up in my hands? I was kindly gifted a copy of this novel ahead of publication in exchange for my honest opinion. One look at the promotional blurb and I knew I had to read it. Was it a page-turner? The book...

Hi Shami ! First of all, many thanks for joining me today. Can you please briefly tell us what Knightmare Arcanist is about? A: Thank you so much for having me! I’m excited to be here. And Knightmare Arcanist is a coming-of-age tale about a boy who wants to bond to a mystical creature in order to gain magical powers. It’s a fun adventure with some spooky villains! Knightmare Arcanist is the first book in the Frith Chronicles series. Was this always going to be a series? And did you have the entire plot entirely figured out since the beginning? A: Yes, this was always going to be a series! In the beginning, I had 5 books planned, but I’ve since moved that number to 7. Currently 6 of the 7 books are outlined completely. The 7th has notes. What kind of research, if any, did you have to carry out while you were writing these novels? In general, is research something you enjoy or a means to an end? A: I’m a history major, so I love reading about civilizations...

Welcome to the blog tour for Sue Wickstead ’s latest picture story book: Gloria, The Summer Fun Bus ! Gloria is a special Playbus. She is painted with bright colours that makes her stand out. Now she is ready for a summer of fun, but will Max enjoy the adventure. Why don't you join in the fun, too? Having previously enjoyed Jay-Jay and his Island Adventure , I knew I didn’t want to miss this. Besides, now I have a tiny human to share the author’s lovely stories with! The book is aimed at children between 5 and 9 years old but my 10-month-old baby clearly liked the delicate illustrations by Jo Anne Davies and the book lends itself to an interactive reading experience, using exaggerated voices and facial expressions that even the littler ones can appreciate! My guess is that, once you reach the end of the story, you will want to go and explore the rest of the series. Oh yes, there’s more …

Welcome to the blog tour for The Diary of a Late Bloomer by L.M.L. Gil! Thanks to the help of Xpresso Book Tours , today I have the pleasure of sharing with you an interview with the author of this coming-of-age novel. Ready? Let’s start… Hello! First of all, I would like to congratulate you on the publication of The Diary of a Late Bloomer ! Can you please briefly tell us what it is about? A: Thank you. It is about Lo, a shy college student who loves baking, manga/anime, and octopi. When she spots her college swim team's tryout flyer sporting her favorite sea creature, an octopus, she knows it's a sign that she must join. Lo faces a number of obstacles: she just learned how to swim, she’s socially awkward, she is ashamed of her body but must wear a swimsuit and she suffers from panic attacks. Lo’s story is about self-acceptance and personal growth while overcoming the obstacles that we and others set for ourselves. It’s also about finding love and friendship in une...